Fight for Dagestan presidency is one of the versions under Interior Minister's murder

The murder of Adilgerei Magomedtagirov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, can have something to do with the presidential election to be held in February 2010. According to some sources, Mr Magomedtagirov could be considered as a candidate for President of Dagestan, should the Kremlin decide to bank on a "strong hand" in the republic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Adilgerei Magomedtagirov was shot dead on June 5 near the "Marrakesh" banquet hall in Makhachkala, where he took part in a wedding party.

The statement made by Dengi Khalidov, co-chairman of the Russian Congress of Caucasian Nations, which is quoted by the "Kommersant" newspaper, says that before the previous presidential election in Dagestan people had been murdered, who were considered as possible candidates to the post. "This had been the case with Magomedsalikh Gusaev and, probably, with Zagir Arukhov, Ministers for National Policy and Mass Media of Dagestan, accordingly," runs the statement.

Besides, it cannot be excluded that the murder of the Minister can be connected with the fight for top positions in power agencies. We remind you that on May 21 this year Seifudin Kaziakhmedov, head of the division for investigating especially important cases, was killed; in the near future, he was believed to become the head of the Republic's Investigatory Department.